Fruit-cutter.



F. T. LILLICK.

FRUIT CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22,1912.

LGQQQQOD Patented 0@1;.22,1912.

glnventop acter whereby the reference being had ionrran snares rarnsrcarton FREDERICK T. LILLICK, OF HAMILTON, MONTANA.

FRUIT-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK T. LILLIoK, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Ravalli and State ofMontana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFruit-Cutters, of which the following is a specification, to theaccompanying drawings. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fruit cuttersand has for its object to-provide a device of this char fruit is quicklyand 'easily clipped from into a suitable receptacle at one operation.

A further object of the invent-ion. is to provide a novel pair of shearsor clippers having a receiving sack or receptacle connected thereto andarranged beneath the clippers to receive the fruit after the same hasbeen clipped from the tree.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthis, character which will'possess advantages in points of efiiciencyand durability, is inexpensive of manufacture and at the same time issimple in construction and operation.

With the above and the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftermore fully described, pointed out in the claims and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side showing the manner in which the device is adapted toview of the shears or-clippers. Fig. 3-1s a rear end-elevation of thereceiving sack or receptacle showing the same in an open position. Fig.4 is a detail view illustrating the front side of said receptacle at theforward or up er end thereof.

Re errin more particularly to the drawings, 1 in icates the shears orclippers, which comprise the oppositely disposed cutting blades 2 and 3pivotally connected at their inner ends by means of the rivet 4, saidblades being constructed so that their outer edges are substantiallyoval shaped in form as shown at 5 and are provided with a plurality ofspaced openings 6 for a purpose which will be hereinafter morespecifically ointed out. Formed integral with the inner ends of theblades and arranged in parallel relation are the handle members 7,

the tree and received ably secured thereto other objects in viewelevation of my device" be used. Fig, 2 is a perspective' 1Patentedtlct. 22,1912. Application filed April 22, 1912. Serial No.692,452.

one of which is providedv on its outer side with a suitable thumb hold 8which is arranged adjacent the inner end of the handle member. Securedto the outer .end of the other handle member is a strap 9, having itsfree end detachably connected to the buckle 10 secured to the outer endof the curved arm 11, which is formed integral with the handle memberadjacent the .inner end thereof. The handle members 7 are to be disposedsubstantially at right angles to the cutting blades so as to give afreer motion to the cutting blades.

A, receiving sack or receptacle 12 is provided ha ing its upper endsecured to the outer edge 5 of the blades by having the thread or cordpassed through the opening '6 and through the upper end of the bag Thefront side of the receptacle is slit as shown at 13 to provide asuitable opening for the passage ofthe fruit when thesame is about to beclipped from the tree. Arranged in the upper end of the ha ,and suitbymeans 0 the loops 14 is a spring member 15 which'helps to hold the slit'13 of the receptacle in an open "osition when the cutting'blades and 3are orced apart.

Arranged transversely across the rear end of the receptacle and securedon the inner,

side thereof are the strips or cleats 16 which may be of wood, metal orother. suitable matierial. Elastic 'bands 17 are arranged in the lowerend of the receptacle and secured to said strips, the tension of saidbands being adapted to bring thecleats 16 into engagement with eachother so as to close the rear end of the receptacle, the same being heldin its closed position by means otthe catch members 18. Secured t0 thereceptacle at thelower end thereof is an adjustable strap 19 which isadapted to encircle the arm of the operator to support the lower end ofthe receptacle.

In usin my improved clipper, the handle members Tare to be grasped bythe hand, the strap 9 being then tightened so that the handle memberscannot be easily' removed from the hand of the operator; In clipping thefruit from the tree the cutting blades 2 and 3 are forced a art by themovement of the hand which wi 1 force the upper end of i the receptacleopen so that the fruit can easily pass in through the opening 13, an thestem of theoatruit will be disposed directly between the cutting bladeswhich when brought together will sever the fruit from the tree. It willbe seen that by clipping the -fruit from the tree in this manner anyrequired length of the stem will remain on the fruit to prevent therapid decay of the same. After the receptacle has been filled the rearend of the same can be easily opened by the other, or free hand of theoperator to dump the contents of the receptacle into a suitablecontainer or shipping case.

While I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, itwill be obvious that various changes in the details of construction andin the proportions will be resorted to for successfully carrying theinvention into practice'without sacrificing any of the novel features ordeparting from the scope thereof.

"What I claim 1s:

1. In a device of the character described,

' cured at one end to the outeredge portions of the cutting blades,means arranged in the other end of said receptacle to retain the same ina closed position, and means secured to the end of the receptacle toengage with thearm of the operator to support the lower end of thereceptacle opposite the cutting blade. i

2. In a-device of the character described, the combination -with a pair-of' cutting blades, handle members formed integral at one end thereofand disposed at substantially right angles thereto, a receptacle open atboth ends and having one end secured to the outer edge portions of thecutting blades, and cleats transversely arran ed in the other end of thereceptacle, a resi ient band disposed in the end of said receptacle andadapted to hold the same in a closed position, and means secured to' thereceptacle and adapted to engage with the arm of the operator to supportthe end of the receptacle.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a pair ofcuttin blades having substantially oval shape outer edges, handlemembers formedintegral with one end of the cutting blades and dispose atsubstantially right angles thereto,.a receptacle open at both ends andhaving one of its ends secured to the outer edge portions of the cuttingblades, a spring member arranged Within one end of the receptacle andsecured thereto to force the receptacle open whenthe cutting blades areopened,

cleats arranged transversely within the other'end of the receptacle, a.resilientband arranged within the end of the receptacle and securedthereto to retain the end of the receptacle normally in a closedposition, and a strap having its intermediate portions secured to theend of the receptacle and having its ends adapted to encircle the arm ofthe operator to support the rear end of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

FREDERICK 'I. LILLICK.

Witnesses:

PAT SHANNON, GROVER C. ARNEST.

